Vintage Camera Collection

Ica Ideal 225

The Ica Ideal 225 is a double-extension bellows 9×12 plate camera (roll film with optional back). Produced by one of the joint ventures of Carl Zeiss c1924 the Ideal 225 is a beast of a camera that is not pocketable by any definition.

The Compur shutter fires nicely and the cocking mechanism feels solid. I have two complaints, one is that the T,B,I knob has very little positive feedback to let you know which shutter firing type is engaged another is that the release to move the shutter assembly along the rails feels squishy. This may be a function of age, but it appears to be a materials issue.